Monday, February 29, 2016

With all the rain we have had the Indian Hawthorn, Raphs or
Raphiolepis have been really suffering. Raphs have been plagued with leaf spot
for years; however, this wet year has taken its toll on them. It seems like right after the Red Tips
(Photinia) were virtually wiped out by Entomosporium leaf spot, the diseased
began attacking the Indian Hawthorn.Indian Hawthorn and Red Tips are in the same plant family as roses
(Rosaceae).

When dealing with a plant that is very susceptible to a leaf
spot disease I like to think of several different factors:

1.Is
this plant worth keeping in the landscape or should I replace it with another
plant that is not susceptible to disease.

2.Is
this plant worth spraying ever 14 – 28 days to keep it in my landscape?To keep an Indian Hawthorn alive, it needs a
life-support system.The plant must be
sprayed at least monthly or it will get leaf spot again.

3.What
cultural practices can I do to help relieve the pressure of the disease?The removal of fallen foliage (sanitation) is
key when dealing with a leaf spot disease.Having a healthy soil, as determined by a soil test, is also very
important because a stressed plant is more susceptible to disease.Providing the correct amount of water
preferably through a drip system, so the plants are not over-watered or drought
stressed.Proper fertility as determined
by the soil test is also important.Use nitrogen
fertilizer very sparingly in small amounts because flushes of new growth are
more susceptible to leaf spot.Choose
“resistant” varieties such as “Olivia”.This does not mean that this plant will never get this disease; it is
just more resistant to the disease. Mulch like Cotton Burr Compost will help
prevent splashes of water drops that could spread the disease.Also this mulch will lower the watering needs
of the plants. Bioscience products like KeyPlex should be considered. KeyPlex
will thicken the cuticle of the leaf making more resistant to the disease as
well as more drought resistant. Pruning for good air movement.

4.What
control products will work best on this disease?If you decide to spray, be prepared to spray
often.Honor Guard, Banner, Dithane
(Mancozeb), and Kocide are good choices. These products should be used in
rotation and according to label. I like the lime-sulfur idea or lime-copper
spray for the reason that the original Lamson–Scribner invented this product in
an effort to save the French wine crop in the late 1800’s. He called it
Bordeaux mix (unfortunately Bordeaux mix is not available anymore). When
spraying these chemicals, an appropriate surfactant should be used. Certain
surfactants work better than others with particular products.

I’m in yards all the time and this
disease is the most common disease I see in our Lowcountry landscape. I usually
recommend replanting the area. I can understand spraying roses all the time.
Indian Hawthorn – ah, not so much.

It is time to get your preemergent
products out before your summer annual weeds start to germinate. Prevention,
being pro-active, and protection is the best way to deal with summer annual weeds.

Monday, February 22, 2016

Since October, we have had a steady dose of rain. Hopefully,
your irrigation system is turned off for now. With this wet weather there are
several things to consider doing to get your lawn and shrubs off to a good
start this spring. Although I do not see them every day, there are yards I pass
that have had standing water in them every time I do pass by them for several
months, and others that are just plain saturated.

This next statement feels weird to write because it is the
opposite of what I’m usually encouraging people to do; however, if you have one
of these saturated yards, pull back the mulch and hold back from mulching right
now. Let the sun and wind get to the soil and dry it out some, so the plant’s
roots (feet) can dry out. If you have read the Horticulture Hotline for long,
you know I love mulch, especially Back To Nature’s Cotton Burr Compost; however,
these conditions are a little different from the normal.

Since oak trees are still dropping leaves, it is a good idea
to hold off on new mulch because you do not want old oak leaves in your
beautiful new mulch. Rake back the mulch on shrubs and trees and let the
sunshine in. This may be a good year to remove all mulch as a sanitation
practice against overwintering disease and insects. Using Mule Mix in these
areas will help dry them out and relieve compaction.

Once the rain slows down, aerate around your trees and
shrubs (if possible) to help relieve compaction and to help dry them out. Add
Mule Mix to these open aeration holes or on the surface also. Wet soils get
compacted very easily. We are seeing a lot of root rot fungi and leaf spot
fungi already. Fungus loves wet conditions, so dry the yard out. SeaHume is the
main organic to use right now because of its ability to flocculate the soil particles
and promote aeration and drainage. SeaHume will encourage beneficial fungi that
will compete with bad fungi as well.

Son (or grandson) gets a new Jeep electric car for Christmas
and drives it on the yard all winter, while the grass is wet and dormant.
Daughter (granddaughter) gets a new puppy. The puppy and the older family dog
are playing doggy games all over the yard, tearing it up. The teenager gets a
car and since there is no more parking places in the driveway, he parks next to
the drive in the grass (now mud). Being a NASCAR fan he skids into the place
and spins his tires on the way out – like pit row. You had great weather for
the fire pit, oyster roast, and pig picking party; however, your yard was still
wet and it looks like a herd of buffalo went through it.

Wet turf compacts way more than dry turf. This would be a
great time to get on a lawn care company’s schedule for aerating, once the
grass comes out of dormancy. With our weather being wet and mild into December,
I saw fungus worse than I can ever remember. Fungus loves moist conditions, so
consider using Mule Mix to dry it out.

SeaHume will encourage beneficial fungi that will compete
with bad fungi and promote aeration and drainage. Consider getting on a
preventive fungicide program and know that some grass is dead from these wet
conditions.

I’m only saying this if your yard is supersaturated (I can’t
believe I’m saying this). Hold off on the Cotton Burr Compost for now (that hurts
to say), rake up leaves and mulch to aid in areas drying up, use Mule Mix to
dry areas, use SeaHume to encourage the good fungi and drainage, aerate, get on
a fungicide program early.

Weeds are going to move into these weakened thin areas. Have
you applied your spring preemerge?

Monday, February 15, 2016

When I see those buds on my bald cypress swelling, I think
of one thing – ORGANICS!

Cotton Burr Compost, Flower Bed Amendment, Nature’s Blend,
composted chicken manure, composted cow manure and / or SeaHume are great
products to use now on your ornamental plants. For best results spread over the
whole bed; however, you can spread the products around individual plants. If
you plan to do individual plants, be sure to cover where the roots are and out
a little past where you think they are. Also remember to keep compost or mulch
off the trunk of trees and shrubs.

Organic products feed the soil as microorganisms break the
organics down into a usable form to the plants. When the soil is cold, these
microorganisms are inactive. As the temperatures warm up, the microorganisms
begin to break down the organic material and make the nutrients available to
the plant. The plant is beginning to grow and put on new leaves as the
temperature warms up, so like magic there is food available to the plant right
when it needs it most. The forest with its leaves, twigs, limbs, and
microorganism population is fertilized in this manner.

Cotton Burr Compost, Flower Bed Amendment, Nature’s Blend,
composted chicken manure, and composted cow manure are all composted to the
point that they do not tie up nitrogen. Some organics can actually steal
nutrients away from the plants while they decompose fully. Wood chips, fresh
raked leaves, or grass clippings are best put into a compost pile until you are
unable to tell what they were originally, and they are fully composted.

SeaHume is a combination of cold water kelp (Ascophyllum
nodosum) and humates.

The seaweed is full of sixty major and minor nutrients,
amino acids, carbohydrates and natural occurring plant growth promoting
substances (bio stimulants) that increase plant vigor, quality and yield.
Humates increase the availability of nutrients in the soil, increase root
growth, keeps nutrients in area that roots can reach (high CEC), make the soil
more friable and many other benefits.

Control summer annual weeds before they emerge with
preemergent herbicides. Crabgrass will be germinating soon, so get your
preemerge of choice out now! Also try not to prune azaleas now or you will be
removing their flower buds and their spring flowers.

About Me

Bill Lamson-Scribner can be reached during the week at Possum’s Landscape and Pest Control Supply. Possum’s has three locations 481 Long Point Rd in Mt. Pleasant (971-9601), 3325 Business Circle in North Charleston (760-2600), or 606 Dupont Rd, in Charleston (766-1511). Bring your questions to a Possum’s location, or visit us at http://www.possumsupply.com. You can also call in your questions to
“ The Garden Clinic”, Saturdays from noon to 1:00, on 1250 WTMA (The Big Talker).